Oscilating head cleaner

Abstract

In a magnetic disk drive a cleaning pad is reciprocated in the direction of motion along the tracks of the disk. This motion along the tracks of the disk combined with cross track motion imparted by the actuator provides particularly effective removal from debris on the surfaces of the head. Linear and rotary actuators are used with the head cleaning device. A solenoid, a voice coil motor, a swash plate or a rotary motor having a connecting rod connected to the cleaning pad move the pad in a linear motion.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A drive for a data storage disk having concentric tracks of data thereon comprising: 
 a read/write head;    a spindle motor for rotating said disk so that data in said tracks can be write/read to and from said disk;    an actuator for moving said head to said tracks of said disk;    a cleaning pad for cleaning said head; and    a head cleaner which moves said head on said pad with relative motion between said head and said pad in the direction of motion along said tracks of said disk.    
     
     
         2 . The drive recited in  claim 1  wherein said head cleaner moves said pad in the direction of motion along the tracks of said disks.  
     
     
         3 . The drive recited in  claim 1  wherein said head cleaner reciprocates said cleaning pad across said head in the direction of motion along the tracks of said disk.  
     
     
         4 . The drive recited in  claim 1  wherein said actuator moves said head on said pad in the direction of the motion across the tracks of said disk.  
     
     
         5 . The drive recited in  claim 4  wherein a combination of motion along said tracks and across said tracks cleans debris from said head.  
     
     
         6  The drive recited in  claim 1  wherein said head cleaner includes a solenoid which moves said pad relative to said head in the direction of movement along said tracks.  
     
     
         7 . The drive recited in  claim 1  wherein said head cleaner includes a voice coil motor which moves said pad relative to said head in the direction of movement along said tracks.  
     
     
         8 . The drive recited in  claim 1  wherein said head cleaner includes a swash plate which moves said pad relative to said head in the direction of movement along said tracks.  
     
     
         9 . The drive recited in  claim 1  wherein said head cleaner includes a rotary motor and a connecting rod connected to said pad to move said pad in a linear motion relative to said heads which is along said tracks.  
     
     
         10 . The drive recited in  claim 1  wherein said actuator is a rotary actuator.  
     
     
         11 . The drive recited in  claim 1  wherein said actuator is a linear actuator.  
     
     
         12 . The drive recited in  claim 1  wherein said disk is a magnetic storage disk.  
     
     
         13 . The drive recited in  claim 1  wherein said disk is a magneto-optical storage disk.  
     
     
         14 . The drive recited in  claim 1  wherein said disk is an optical storage disk.